April 17, 2025

Suggested Readings:

Exodus 12:1-4, (5-10), 11-14

Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19

1 Corinthians 11:23-26

John 13:1-17, 31b-35

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Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday, among other names is the day during Holy Week that commemorates the washing of the feet (Maundy) and last supper of Jesus the Christ with the apostles as described in the canonical gospels. “Maundy” comes from the Latin word mandatum, or commandment, reflecting Jesus’ words “I give you a new commandment.”

It’s a beautiful, tender scene. The disciples gathered with Jesus to celebrate the Passover. John doesn’t record the sharing of bread and cup, rather in John’s narrative, Jesus does something totally unexpected. Rising from the table, Jesus removes his outer garment, wraps a towel around his waist, and with a bowl of water, proceeds to wash the disciples feet.

The New Interpreter’s Study Bible Notes states, “foot washing was an act of hospitality offered to guests after a journey, normally performed by servants or the guests themselves. By washing his disciples’ feet, Jesus combines the role of servant and host. Jesus welcomes his disciples into his “home,” his dwelling with the Father.”

To be at home with Jesus is to be in the presence of the Father. To be in the presence of the Father is to realize how unimportant the world’s definition of success is. If God’s son is willing to wash feet, how can I do less?

“if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.” (John 13:14-15)

There is the example and the command. “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)

If the church has failed in the eyes of the world, the failure is the result of our unwillingness to live into the commandment to love one another. We are perfectly content to love and serve those who love us in return. The difficulty arises when we are expected to love those who do not love us in return, or fail to live up to our preconceptions of what they should be. Church literature is full of stories of church fights and splits. It is not unusual to find well-intended folks who want nothing to do with the church because of harsh treatment they have received in the church. Rather than living into the servant-model of Jesus we determine who is “in” and who is not worthy of our love and compassion. In short, we make demeaning, hateful judgements on those not like us.

The church would be a much better place if we incarnated the love and service of the One we claim to serve.

Reflection: What does love look like? Do I express love by serving or do I demand to be served? Do others see Christ in the way I treat them?

Repentance: Obviously I am called to serve. I need to change my attitude toward others. Rather than seeing others as objects to be used, I need to see them as children of God to be loved and nurtured.

Reconciliation: Jesus died for me. If I want to be at home in the presence of God, I will commit to love my neighbor as myself. (Matthew 22:38-39) Not easy. But essential.

Renewal: Giving up myself allows me to experience the fullness of Christ. Forgiveness. Love. Compassion.